Bucs Face Injured Steelers Defense

Greg Linnelli

09/22/2014

As the Bucs turn their attention to the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, the team maybe getting the Black and Gold at a good time. Granted, the Steelers looked awfully impressive in their 37-19 win over the Panthers this past Sunday. But the win may have come at a cost.

As the Bucs turn their attention to the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, the team maybe getting the Black and Gold at a good time. Granted, the Steelers looked awfully impressive in their 37-19 win over the Panthers this past Sunday. But the win may have come at a cost.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, LBs Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier, along with CB Ike Taylor, all are expected to be out this week with injuries. Jones likely needs wrist surgery and is out indefinitely. Shazier has a sprained MCL and Taylor is out with a broken forearm.

At 0-3 the Bucs certainly have their issues. While the QB situation remains murky this week because of Josh McCown's thumb injury, the Bucs figure to rely on their running game regardless of who is behind center. The Steelers have struggled against the run this year. In the teams first two games the Steelers gave up an average of 174 rushing yards. That's very Un-Steeler like. Pittsburgh looked much better against the Panthers after allowing just 42 yards rushing for the entire game.

"If you go into Pittsburgh, you have to believe that you can win," Bucs offensive tackle Demar Dotson said on Monday. "It's going to be a 60 minute physical game, so we have to come and bring it."

The Steelers are not the same ferocious defense in years past. The defense is built around youth, which means mistakes are likely to occur more often than not. The Bucs will still be a heavy underdog in this game. But if the team runs the football and keeps Ben Roethlisberger off the field, the Bucs can certainly keep the this game close.